As excitement for Caribbean carnival season builds, everyone’s looking for the latest songs to run the road. Soca Arena, the new compilation from VP Records presents prime contenders form Soca’s hottest artists and producers. Kick off your carnival with these jump up winners!

Rocksteady, Atlanta’s ONLY monthly Roots Reggae event returns this weekend! Join us Sunday December 7th, 2014 at the Sound Table (Voted BEST of ATLANTA 2014 by Atlanta Magazine, and previously dubbed BEST PLACE to have a DRINK in the city of ATL).

This time around hosting duties will be handled by Atlanta Reggae artist SHOOKS S.L.R who will be celebrating his Earth Strong inna rubadub style and pattern with Music by residents Kahlil Wonda of Highlanda Sound and DJ Passport, plus special guests CARTEL SOUND with DJ Phillip 5 and the crew.

Doors Open 8pm – Midnight; No Cover Charge; RSVP to VaultClassics@gmail.com. Must be 21+.The Sound Table is located at 483 Edgewood Ave (corner of Boulevard) in downtown Atlanta’s revitalized Old Fourth Ward community.

Rocksteady, a recurring festive occasion now being celebrated on 1st Sundays in downtown Atlanta’s re-born Old Forth Ward neighborhood presents a retro Caribbean soundtrack at a now classic locale, The Sound Table, located at 483 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30312.

This is a unique old-school style themed reggae soiree powered by Highlanda Sound System and DJ Passport. Enjoy world-class mixology infused with crucial music selection you won’t get at other spots in the city.

More on the genre Rocksteady:

Rocksteady is a music genre that originated in Jamaica during the late 1960s, after SKA and before REGGAE. Rocksteady and the early reggae that followed, was built around the “one drop” drum beat, characterized by a heavy accent on the second and fourth beat of every bar, played by the bass drum and the snare together. The bass line eventually became one of the most recognizable characteristics of Jamaican music.

Despite its short lifespan, rocksteady’s influence is great as most of the reggae artists started out in Rocksteady and/or SKA. Many reggae songs became focused less on romance and more on black consciousness, politics and protest. The release of the film “The Harder They Come” and the rise of Jamaican superstar Bob Marley brought reggae to an international level that rocksteady never reached.

Although rocksteady was a short-lived phase of Jamaican popular music (about 2 years), it was hugely influential on reggae, dub and dancehall. Many bass lines originally created for rocksteady songs continue to be used in contemporary Jamaican music, such as the rhythm from “Never Let You Go” by Slim Smith (sometimes known as the Answer rhythm) and the Hi-Fashion rhythm from “Bobby Babylon” by Freddie McGregor.

“Jack Hammer” is the summertime hit from QQ (“One Drop”), already a hit in the Caribbean and now breaking through in the States. The track is supported by consistent club play and a strong social media campaign through YouTube videos and Instagram @qqworld.

“Richest Girl” is the lead single off of Etana‘s forthcoming album, I Rise (autumn 2014, VP Records). Produced by legendary Jamaican arranger/composer/producer/multi-instrumentalist Clive Hunt, “Richest Girl” is a song about recognizing the truly important things in life, with the “Strong One” voicing the sentiment “I could lose it all, but one thing that is true, if I wake up next to you, I’m the richest girl.”

Fay Ann Lyons new hit “Catch Me” is primed to take the Soca Queen to whole other level. Already getting play with Caribbean outlets, the lead single from her debut VP Records album showcases the vocalist against an EDM flavor that is catching on everywhere.

The first single from Fay-Ann Lyon’s forthcoming debut album “Catch Me,” produced by Richie Beretta will be featured on Reggae Gold 2014 (dropping August 12). The official genre is listed as Soca, but the track’s POP, EDM and dance music elements are all undeniable.

For almost two decades, VP Records has been bringing the annual Soca Gold series to the masses. The top-selling compilation has been the ultimate Carnival soundtrack from the Caribbean islands. Featured on this album are songs by Kerwin Du Bois, Lil Rick, Bunji Garlin, Fay-Ann Lyons, Biggie Irie, Farmer Nappy, Patrice Roberts, Benjai and many more.